Moyosore Owojuyigbe

April 16, 2020 12: 00pm The first time I wished to have a nightmare These days, do you wake up like I do, hoping that every day you have lived these past few months has been just a nightmare? Do you pray to wake up from this nightmare soon like you always do? For years now, I've been having nightmares; frightening and realistic sorts of nightmare. And every time I wake up from such mares, I make sure to pray against future nightmares and the one I just had, I bind and loose. That's been my routine for years now. Never had I prayed to have a nightmare or even 'afternoon mares' (because I do have some of those too). But everything changed this year (2020), the start of a decade. A year everyone had a lot of expectations for. Let us go back to December 2019- a new disease just got discovered in a China Town (Wuhan). Alright, I actually saw the news but hello! China is a lot of continents away from Africa, right? No way that is getting here! I never even thought this thought just so you know I never saw it happening. Then within weeks, it's gotten to other countries; causing death rates higher than China's? Even Nightmares give you space. They don't happen all at once. COVID-19 pandemic is a nightmare I wish I could just wake up from. I am not the "I like school a lot" type but I really wish to be in school. I miss my lectures (strange but true!), I miss my hostel (the rent of which is wasting away slowly_I only slept for about 2 weeks on that bed of mine and we've used almost sixteen weeks in this year already). Before this nightmare, I never loved going out. But now that I can't, I want to but knowing I can't makes me feel bad. After this, I will start appreciating nature (I might even start counting the leaves on trees). I miss the honking of cars, I miss the way people walk in crowds on the streets, I miss hearing airplanes hover over us (I used to be scared of this because I know planes could crash anywhere). I miss seeing my friends, I miss seeing general markets open. I miss everything we had before this period. Things I never even appreciated. Before this, I always said I am people phobic-Anthropophobic) but all I want to do right now is to hug everyone I see (whenever this is over). I used to have my feelings all bottled up but this season gat me thinking like, "Hey! Life is short! Tell those who hurt you they did, tell those who made you happy they did and solve problems...don't you dare hold any grudge against any soul because we are all hurt" (we don't know this but we all are...hurt because you see people dying on the screen or if you happen to be a medical health practitioner, you have probably witnessed a death or two...we are all hurt and I pray we get healed and find peace). Now, I wish I had that ice-cream before I left school (Thank God I ate that shawarma though, but do you know I had to wait for 14 days after I ate that shawarma?...mhen! Who wouldn't? The next day after I ate it got me purging like I heard diarrhea is part of the symptoms. Next, I had sore throat "Oh! I shouldn't have gone outside, I remember someone coughed on me that day." Day 3, my body felt so warm to touch 'mind you! I didn't sleep well and that might probably be the cause but Corona virus is in town and I was fine the last time I slept late but ok! Probably I am overreacting.' I had to call my closest friend and eh! He has some symptoms too....oh boy! We ate the shawarma together). I had never been scared in two weeks like I was. But thank God, it's been one month and I am fine, my friend has never felt better too. Now, let's get to surviving during this period as the last born in a full house. It's been tough (got me wishing I stayed in school but I am grateful I didn't. My foodstuffs would have finished., even the gas. So thank God for home but these folks of mine do have to stop calling my name for the umpteenth time already. I am one person, trying to survive during this period and still come out strong (not looking all worn out and haggard). Please mama! Papa! Anyone?) Surviving as a student is another story entirely. Imagine struggling to read because you are unsure what the future holds. But I am positive this would be over soon. Just pray my brain doesn't have cobwebs by the time I resume. Errr...the story continues because the nightmare is still all there. I just want it to be over soon. I pray we all find peace and good health. Thanks to everyone that has been at the forefront of the whole thing. Thank you Superheroes! P.S: Let's lessen those conspiracy theories please. MOYOSORE OWOJUYIGBE